AN Islander is preparing to represent Jersey in the finals of a beauty contest for the second time this year – and raise money for charity in the process.

Marlene Potfer (26) is a trust administrator who moved to Jersey from France nine years ago, and despite having no modelling experience or training she is in with a chance of being crowned Miss Intercontinental Great Britain. Last month she was a finalist in the Miss Earth UK Grand Final, a contest with a difference in which the entrants had to be ‘good and effective advocates of worthy causes’.

Marlene is now concentrating on the Miss Intercontinental GB final next month and is calling on Islanders to help her win. The competition is decided by text voting, but the number does not work from Jersey phones, so Marlene has arranged with the organisers to use an online-donation web page with each £1 donation going to Children with Leukaemia. ‘I used to have leukaemia so I really take this charity to heart,’ she said. ‘The Grand Final takes place in two weeks at the Renaissance Hotel in London.’

The winner will travel to the Seychelles to represent Great Britain and compete against 40 girls from countries all over the world. Marlene said she would be proud to represent Jersey, having settled so well into her adopted Island.
‘I didn’t speak a word of English when I came here and I worked in hotel, bars and restaurants and learned the language,’ she said. ‘I am now fluent and work for a trust company in the Island.

‘I don’t have any modelling experience but I am a very motivated person when it comes to achieving what I’ve decided to do, and modelling is what I want to do. I am a very bubbly person and I just catch life as it flows. I would see myself as a confident person with determination who is also down to earth. I like the simple things in life.’

Marlene is being sponsored by 360 Degrees (Jersey) Ltd for the final, which takes place on Friday and Saturday this week, 26 and 27 September.

• To vote for Marlene and make a donation to Children with Leukaemia, go to www.bmycharity.com/V2/marlenepotfer.